Sure Shot
{{short description|1994 single by Beastie Boys}}
{{About|the Beastie Boys song|other uses|Sureshot (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sure Shot
| cover = Beastie_boys-sure_shot-cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Beastie Boys
| album = Ill Communication
| released = June 2, 1994
| recorded =
| studio =
- G-Son, Atwater Village
- Tin Pan Alley, New York City
| length = 3:20
| label =
| writer =
- Beastie Boys
- DJ Hurricane
- Mario Caldato Jr.
- Jeremy Steig
| producer =
- Beastie Boys
- Mario Caldato Jr.
| prev_title = Get It Together
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Root Down
| next_year = 1995
| misc =
{{External music video|{{YouTube|JhqyZeUlE8U|"Sure Shot"}}}}
}}
"Sure Shot" is a song by American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released by Grand Royal and Capitol as the third single from their fourth album, Ill Communication (1994), on June 2, 1994, two days after the album's release. The song was co-written by the group with Mario Caldato Jr., who also co-produced it with them. It features a looped sample of jazz flautist Jeremy Steig's song "Howlin' for Judy" from the 1970 album Legwork. The brief vocal sample after the second verse ("Oh yes indeed, it's fun time") was taken from a comedy record by Moms Mabley.{{cite web | url=https://geeksofdoom.com/2012/05/10/the-beastie-boys-sure-shot-deconstructed | title=The Beastie Boys' 'Sure Shot' Deconstructed | date=10 May 2012 }}
Release
The CD and cassette maxi single (with a total of 7 tracks) features three remixes of the title track, by Large Professor, Mike Nardone and Dred Scott, and the Prunes, respectively.
It also features 3 new songs, "Mullet Head" (a punk-rock-style song whose title references the much-ridiculed mullet hair-style), "Son of Neckbone" (an instrumental track) and "The Vibes", a more traditional rap song akin to "Sure Shot". "Mullet Head" was also featured on the 1994 EP Pretzel Nugget.
Critical reception
Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "It's in there. The kooky trio rarely misfires, having become experts at their hybrid of frat-rap and rock. Ever aware of the old school, the Beasties shout, scratch, and sample a frantic masterpiece of twisted flutes, barking dogs, and juvenile lyrics. Ill and real."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-09-10.pdf#page=87|title=Single Reviews: Pop|magazine=Billboard|date=10 September 1994|page=89|access-date=30 May 2025|author-link=Larry Flick}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted, "Coming to you with a screen saver for your PC, the Brooklyn scumbags have singled out one of the purest hip hop tracks from their "media rehabilitation" album, III Communication."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-02-11.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=6|date=11 February 1995|page=10|access-date=14 March 2025}}
According to various publications, the song is noteworthy for including the verse:
:“I want to say a little something that’s long overdue/The disrespect to women has got to be through/To all the mothers and sisters and wives and friends/I wanna offer my love and respect to the end.”
The verse is widely considered to be a contrition for the group's early lyrics and demeanor which are perceived by some as misogynous.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-one-verse-helped-the-beastie-boys-atone-for-a-bad-boy-past-1543848945
|title=How One Verse Helped the Beastie Boys Atone for a Bad-Boy Past|magazine=The Wall Street journal|volume=|issue=|date=|page=|access-date=18 April 2025}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/10-great-adam-yauch-musical-moments-116154/sure-shot-1994-116220/|title=10 Great Adam Yauch Musical Moments|magazine=The Rolling Stone|volume=|issue=|date=|page=|access-date=4 August 2017}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/sasha-frere-jones/peace-adam|title=Peace, Adam
|magazine=The New Yorker|volume=|issue=|date=|page=|access-date=4 May 2012}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/may/05/adam-yauch|title=Adam Yauch obituary|magazine=The Guardian|volume=|issue=|date=|page=|access-date=5 May 2012}}
Music video
Directed by American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer Spike Jonze, the music video for "Sure Shot" features the group, along with DJ Hurricane, performing, skating, and wearing suits while attending a party.
Track listing
- "Sure Shot" (LP Version)
- "Sure Shot" (Large Professor Remix)
- "Mullet Head"
- "The Vibes"
- "Sure Shot" (Nardone Mix)
- "Son Of Neckbone"
- "Sure Shot" (European B-Boy Mix)
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Beastie Boys}}
{{Beastie Boys singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Spike Jonze
Category:Songs written by Mario Caldato Jr.
Category:Song recordings produced by Mario Caldato Jr.
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Songs written by Mike D